[Illustration: COURT OF THE LADIES OF QUEEN ANNE OF BRITTANY. (_From a Miniature in the Library of St. Petersburg._) Representing the Queen weeping on account of her Husband's absence during the Italian War. PERIOD: XV. CENTURY.] FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 3: Those who would read a very interesting account of the history of this stone are referred to the late Dean Stanley's "Historical Memorials of Westminster Abbey."] [Footnote 4: The sous, which was but nominal money, may be reckoned as representing 20 francs, the denier 1 franc, but allowance must be made for the enormous difference in the value of silver, which would make 20 francs in the thirteenth century represent upwards of 200 francs in the present century.] CHAPTER III. The Renaissance. THE RENAISSANCE IN ITALY: Leonardo da Vinci and Raffaelle--Church of St. Peter, contemporary great artists--The Italian Palazzo--Methods of gilding, inlaying and mounting Furniture--Pietra-dura and other enrichments--Ruskin's criticism. THE RENAISSANCE IN FRANCE: François I. and the Chateau of Fontainebleau--Influence on Courtiers--Chairs of the time--Design of Cabinets--M. E. Bonnaffé on The Renaissance--Bedstead of Jeanne d'Albret--Deterioration of taste in time of Henry IV.--Louis XIII. Furniture--Brittany woodwork. THE RENAISSANCE IN THE NETHERLANDS: Influence of the House of Burgundy on Art--The Chimney-piece at Bruges, and other casts of specimens at South Kensington Museum. THE RENAISSANCE IN SPAIN: The resources of Spain in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries--Influence of Saracenic Art, high-backed leather chairs, the Carthusian Convent at Granada. THE RENAISSANCE IN GERMANY: Albrecht Dürer--Famous Steel Chair of Augsburg--German seventeenth century carving in St. Saviour's Hospital. THE RENAISSANCE IN ENGLAND: Influence of Foreign Artists in the time of Henry VIII.--End of Feudalism--Hampton Court Palace--Linen Pattern Panels--Woodwork in the Henry VII. Chapel at Westminster Abbey--Livery Cupboards at Hengrave--Harrison quoted--The "parler," alteration in English customs--Chairs of the sixteenth century--Coverings and Cushions of the time, extract from old inventory--South Kensington cabinet--Elizabethan Mirror at Goodrich Court--Shaw's "Ancient Furniture"--The Glastonbury Chair--Introductions of Frames into England--Characteristics of Native Woodwork--Famous Country Mansions, alteration in design of Woodwork and Furniture--Panelled Rooms at South Kensington--The Charterhouse--Gray's Inn Hall and Middle Temple--The Hall of the Carpenters' Company--The Great Bed of Ware--Shakespeare's Chair--Penhurst Place.